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A PROCLAMATION 

TO  THE  PEOPLE  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Executive  Department,  Boston, 
November  18, 1868. 

* Fellow  Citizens  : — 

Under  the  Act  of  the  General  Court,  passed  this 
day,  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  offers  a 
bounty  of  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars 
($325)  to  every  volunteer  who  shall  enlist  and  be 
mustered  into  the  military  service  of  the  United 
States,  to  serve  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war, 
but  not  to  exceed  three  years,  as  a part  of  the  contin- 
gent of  Massachusetts,  under  the  last  call  of  the  Presi- 
dent. This  bounty,  however,  will  not  be  paid  to  any 
minor  without  the  consent  of  his  parents  or  guardians, 
if  he  has  any  in  the  State. 

Any  volunteer  who  wishes,  can  deposit  his  bounty, 
or  any  part  of  it,  with  the  Treasurer  of  the  Common- 
wealth, subject  to  his  own  order,  and  receive  interest 
on  it  at  five  per  cent,  a year.  Thus,  for  such  part  of 


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his  money  as  he  does  not  wish  to  use  immediately,  he 
can  make  the  treasury  of  the  State  his  savings  bank, 
and  it  will  be  earning  him  interest  as  a safe  invest- 
ment. Or,  if  he  wishes  to  use  it  from  time  to  time, 
it  can  be  sent  to  the  treasurer  of  his  own  town  or 
city,  and  there  paid  out  to  the  volunteer’s  own  order. 
Or  he  can  draw  out  a part  of  it,  and  leave  the  re- 
mainder to  accumulate  on  interest,  and  be  drawn  for 
when  wanted. 

Persons  entitled  to  State  aid,  under  the  laws  of  the 
Commonwealth,  may  receive  it,  notwithstanding  the 
payment  of  this  bounty. 

' This  bounty  is  payable  equally  to  veteran  soldiers, 
wxho  have  served  nine  months  or  more,  and  to  new 
recruits  ; and  is  in  addition  to  the  bounty  paid  by  the 
United  States. 

Those  volunteers  who  prefer,  may,  instead  of  the 
larger  bounty  in  hand,  receive  fifty  dollars  upon  enlist- 
ing, in  addition  to  the  seventy-five  dollars  paid  in  ad- 
vance by  the  United  States,  and  afterwards  receive  a 
monthly  additional  pay  of  twenty  dollars  per  month, 
making,  with  the  regular  monthly  pay  from  the  United 
States,  thirty -three  dollars  per  month.  And  this  is  in 
addition  to  the  instalments  of  bounties  offered  by  the 
United  States.  This  monthly  pay  of  twenty  dollars 


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per  month  will  be  payable  at  the  office  of  the  Treasurer 
of  the  Commonwealth,  upon  the  soldier’s  order ; and 
a system  will  be  devised  in  relation  to  drawing  such 
orders,  for  the  purpose  of  guarding  both  the  soldier 
and  the  treasury  against  fraud. 

This  monthly  pay,  if  the  soldier  wishes,  or  any  part 
of  it,  may  be  deposited  in  the  treasury,  as  a Savings 
Bank,  drawing  five  per  cent,  interest,  or  may  be 
drawn  upon  the  soldier’s  order,  as  above  mentioned. 

In  case  of  the  volunteer’s  choosing  to  receive  the 


B 


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increased  monthly  pay  instead  of  the  larger  bounty  in 
hand,  he  will  receive  the  same  pay  of  twenty  dollars 
per  month  for  six  months  after  his  honorable  dis- 
charge for  disability  after  six  months’  service  ; and  if 
he  dies  in  service,  his  widow  or  heirs  will  receive  the 
same  additional  six  months’  pay  after  his  death  ; with 
the  limitation,  that  it  will  not  continue  more  than 
three  years  in  the  whole. 

If  residents  of  one  town,  or  one  ward  of  a city, 
enlist  in  another,  they  will,  nevertheless,  be  counted 
in  the  quota  of  the  town  or  ward  where  they  reside, 
until  that  quota  is  full. 


Whoever  enlists,  knowing  he  is  physically  disquali- 
fied for  military  duty,  with  the  fraudulent  intent  of 


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obtaining  the  bounty  and  then  getting  discharged  for 
such  disability,  is  liable  to  imprisonment  in  the  State 
prison  not  exceeding  ten  years,  or  fine  not  exceeding 
five  hundred  dollars,  or  imprisonment  in  jail  not  more 
than  two  years. 

Massachusetts  soldiers  now  in  service,  and  having 
not  exceeding  one  year  more  of  their  present  enlist- 
ment to  serve,  may  re-enlist,  and  receive  the  same 
bounties  with  those  above  mentioned ; with  the  same 
privilege  of  choosing  to  receive  the  $325  down,  or 
$50  down  and  $20  additional  monthly  pay  instead ; 
and  with  the  same  privilege  of  making  the  State 
treasury  their  Savings  Bank,  and  receiving  interest ; 
and  of  having  their  six  months’  pay  continued  after 
discharge,  or  in  the  event  of  death,  to  their  widows  or 
heirs,  on  the  terms  above  mentioned. 

Soldiers  in  old  regiments  may  re-enlist  in  their  own 
regiments ; and  veterans,  (that  is,  returned  soldiers 
who  have  served  at  least  nine  months,)  may  enlist  in 
either  of  the  following  new  organizations,  namely,  the 
2d  Regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery,  commanded  by  Colonel 
Frankie ; the  56th  Regiment  of  Infantry,  commanded 
by  Colonel  Griswold ; the  57th,  commanded  by  Colonel 
Bartlett ; the  58th,  commanded  by  Colonel  Richmond  ; 


the  59th,  commanded  by  Colonel  Gould ; (the  latter 
four  being  also  called  the  1st,  2d,  3d,  and  4th  Veteran 
Regiments  respectively;)  or  in  the  Battalion  of  Veteran 
Cavalry  now  recruiting  at  Readville,  or  they  may  join 
any  existing  regiment  or  company. 

In  addition  to  the  above  bounties,  offered  by  the 
Commonwealth,  bounties  will  also  be  paid  by  the 
United  States,  as  follows : — 

To  every  recruit  who  is  a veteran  volunteer,  that 
is,  every  able-bodied  man,  between  the  ages  of 
eighteen  and  forty-five,  who  has  heretofore  been 
enlisted,  and  has  served  for  not  less  than  nine 
months,  and  can  pass  the  surgical  examination  re- 
quired by  the  mustering  regulations  of  the  United 
States,  one  month’s  pay  in  advance,  and  a bounty 
and  premium  amounting  to  $402,  as  follows  : — 

1.  At  the  general  rendezvous,  and  before  leaving 
the  same  to  join  his  regiment  or  company, 

one  month’s  pay  in  advance,  . . . $13  00 

First  instalment  of  bounty,  . . . . 60  00 

Premium, 2 00 

Total  pay  before  leaving  general  rendezvous,  $75  00 
[This  will  be  paid  in  cash,  or  checks  for  transmittal,  in 
whole  or  in  part,  as  the  man  may  desire.] 

2.  At  the  first  regular  pay-day,  or  two  months 

after  muster  in,  an  additional  instalment  of 
bounty, 


$50  00 


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3.  At  the  first  regular  pay-day  after  six  months’ 

service,  an  additional  instalment  of  bounty,  $50  00 

4.  At  the  first  regular  pay-day  after  the  end  of 

the  first  year’s  service,  an  additional  instal- 
ment of  bounty, 50  00 

5.  At  the  first  regular  pay-day  after  eighteen 

months’  service,  an  additional  instalment  of 
bounty,  50  00 

6.  At  the  first  regular  pay-day  after  two  years’ 

service,  an  additional  instalment  of  bounty,  50  00 

7.  At  the  first  regular  pay-day  after  two  and  a 

half  years’  service,  an  additional  instalment 
of  bounty, 50  00 

8.  At  the  expiration  of  three  years’  service,  or  to 

any  soldier  who  may  be  honorably  dis- 
charged after  two  years’  service,  the  remain- 
der of  the  bounty  will  be  paid,  . . . 40  00 

All  of  the  above  payments  of  bounty  will  be  in  addition  to 
the  regular  monthly  pay  of  thirteen  dollars  per  month. 

To  all  other  recruits,  not  veterans,  accepted  and  enlisted 
as  aforesaid,  one  month’s  pay  in  advance,  and  in  addition,  a 
bounty  and  premium  amounting  to  $302,  will  be  paid,  as 
follows : — 

1.  At  the  general  rendezvous  and  before  leaving 
the  same  to  join  his  regiment  or  company, 
the  recruit  will  be  paid  one  month’s  pay  in 


advance,  ....... 

$13 

00 

First  instalment  of  bounty,  .... 

60 

00 

Premium, 

2 

00 

Total  pay  before  leaving  general  rendezvous, 

$75 

00 

[To  be  paid  in  cash  or  checks  for  transmittal,  in 

whole 

or 

in  part,  as  the  recruit  may  desire.] 


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2.  At  the  first  regular  pay-day  or  two  months 

after  muster-in,  an  additional  instalment  of 
bounty  will  be  paid,  ..... 

3.  At  the  first  regular  pay-day  after  six  months’ 

service,  in  addition  to  his  pay,  he  shall  be 
paid  an  additional  instalment  of  bounty,  . 

4.  At  the  first  regular  pay-day  after  the  end  of 

the  first  year’s  service,  in  addition  to  his 
pay,  an  additional  instalment  of  bounty  will 
be  paid,  . . . . 

5.  At  the  first  regular  pay-day  after  eighteen 

months’  service,  in  addition  to  his  pay,  an 
additional  instalment  of  bounty  will  be  paid, 

6.  At  the  first  regular  pay-day  after  two  years’ 

service,  in  addition  to  his  pay,  an  additional 
instalment  of  bounty  will  be  paid, 

7.  At  the  expiration  of  three  years’  service,  or  to 

any  soldier  who  may  be  honorably  discharged 
after  two  years’  service,  the  remainder  of  the 
bounty  will  be  paid,  ..... 


$40  00 

40  00 


40  00 

* 

40  00 


40  00 


40  00 


If  the  government  shall  not  require  these  troops  for  the 
full  period  of  three  years,  and  they  shall  be  honorably  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service  before  the  expiration  of  their  term 
of  enlistment,  they  will  receive,  upon  being  mustered  out, 
the  whole*  amount  of  bounty  remaining  unpaid,  the  same  as 
if  the  full  term  had  been  served.  The  legal  heirs  of  recruits 
who  die  in  service  will  be  entitled  to  receive  the  whole 
bounty  remaining  unpaid  at  the  time  of  the  soldier’s  death. 

If  the  recruit  continues  in  service  for  three  years,  the 
monthly  pay  of  $13,  and  the  bounty  received  as  aforesaid, 
will  amount,  when  averaged  over  the  whole  term  of  service : 


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For  veteran  volunteers,  per  month,  to  . . $24  90 

For  other  soldiers,  not  veterans,  per  month,  . 21  30 

If  discharged  at  the  end  of  two  years,  the  pay  and  bounty 
received  will  be  at  the  following  rates  : — 

For  veteran  volunteers,  per  month,'  . . . $29  70 

For  other  soldiers,  not  veterans,  per  month,  . 25  50 

If  honorably  mustered  out  in  less  than  two  years,  as  not 
being  required,  the  monthly  rate  of  compensation  will 
become  increased,  as  the  term  of  service  is  diminished. 

In  addition  to  this,  the  volunteer  is  furnished  with  his 
rations,  clothing,  and  medical  attendance,  and  is  paid  in 
cash  for  such  part  of  his  allowance  of  clothing  as  he  does 
not  draw.  * 

Men  enlisted  under  this  Order  will  be  permitted  to  select 
their  own  regiments,  which,  however,  must  be  old  regiments 
in  the  field,  excepting  in  the  cases  of  those  veterans  who 
enlist  in  veteran  organizations,  and  with  the  further  ex- 
ception that  other  new  recruits,  while  they  may,  if  they 
choose  to  do  so,  enlist  in  the  veteran  regiments,  the  provi- 
sions of  this  Order  in  respect  to  bounties  will  not  be  enjoyed 
by  them. 

Veterans  may  enlist  in  either  of  the  above  five 
veteran  regiments  or  veteran  battalion,  or  in  any 
old  regiment  or  company,  and  receive  the  veteran 
bounty  of  $402,  from  the  United  States.  Other 
new  recruits  may  enlist  in  either  of  the  old  regiments 
in  the  field,  and  receive  the  bounty  of  $302,  from  the 


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United  States  above-mentioned  ; and  on  enlisting  in 
the  new  battalion  of  cavalry,  at  Readville,  recruiting 
for  the  First  Regiment  of  Massachusetts  Cavalry, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Sargent,  will  also  receive 
the  bounty  of  $302,  from  the  United  States. 

The  comparative  advantage  to  the  soldier  of  the 
alternative  offers  made  by  the  Commonwealth  may 
be  stated  thus,  viz. : 

1st.  By  accepting  the  $50  and  monthly  pay  of  $20, 
he  will  have  received  $330,  from  the  State  at  the  end 
of  fourteen  months  ; i.  e.,  $5  more  than  the  bounty 
of  $325.  And  for  every  month’s  additional  service 
he  will  have  $20  more,  and  if  honorably  discharged 
for  disability  after  six  months’  service,  he  will  receive 
six  months’  pay  thereafter,  i.  e.,  $120  besides, — the 
whole  monthly  pay  however,  not  to  be  for  more  than 
three  years.  The  total  received  from  the  State  for 
the  $50  bounty  and  $20  per  month  would  in  three 
years  be  $770. 

2d.  By  accepting  the  bounty  of  $325,  he  makes 
sure  of  that  sum,  and  he  waives  his  chances  of  more. 

Let  the  soldier  elect  according  to  his  best  judgment 
of  his  own  interest,  and  let  him,  at  all  events,  unless 
he  knows  precisely  what  to  do  with  his  money  now 


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for  the  advantage  of  his  family  and  himself,  leave 
his  money  in  the  treasury,  where  it  will  draw  interest 
and  remain  while  he  is  absent  without  any  risk  of 
loss.  There  can  be  no  better  investment  for  him  on 
the  whole  and  in  the  long  run,  except  paying  his 
debts,  if  he  owes  any. 

I know  that  the  people  of  Massachusetts  do  not 
fight  for  money  nor  vulgar  glory.  They  fight  for  their, 
country,  to  subdue  the  enemies  of  her  rights  and  their 
own  liberties,  under  the  better  impulses  of  duty, 
patriotism  and  manly  honor.  But  the  purpose  of 
the  State  is  to  provide  for  the  comfort  and  protection 
of  the  soldier’s  household,  so  that  the  highest  duties 
of  patriotism  may  be  found  consistent  with  those  of 
domestic  affection.  I am  directed,  therefore,  to  tender 
to  Volunteers,  under  the  New  Call , their  alternative, 
Bounty  or  State  Pay. 

The  offers  of  the  Commonwealth  come  alike  to 
the  new  recruit,  the  returned  veteran,  and  to  the  old 
soldier  still  in  the  field. 

The  offers  of  the  United  States  are  alike  to  all  these 
classes,  saving  only  that  recruits,  (not  being  discharged 
soldiers  of  nine  months’  experience,)  will  receive  from 


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the  United  States  $ 100  instead  of  $300,  if  they  select 
a regiment  not  now  in  the  field. 

A General  Order  will  soon  issue  from  the  Office  of 
the  Adjutant- General,  containing  any  details  needed 
in  addition  to  those  of  Order  No.  30. 

% 

Fellow  Citizens: — I have  endeavored  with  clear- 
ness and  simplicity  to  present  the  offers  made  by  our 
governments,  State  and  National,  to  render  convenient 
the  military  service. 

Let  the  duty  of  this  occasion  be  performed  in  the 
spirit  of  men  worthy  of  the  name  and  the  blood  of 
Massachusetts,  worthy  to  bear  in  their  charge  the 
fortunes  of  a Nation,  its  civilization,  its  liberties,  and  its 
life.  Your  country  proposes  the  opportunity  of  duty 
crowned  with  honor.  Posterity  waits  to  render  you 
its  undying  gratitude.  Humanity  offers  you  the  bless- 
ings of  them  who  are  ready  to  perish  ! 


JOHN  A.  ANDREW,  Governor. 


